The Garda Commissioner has accepted a finding by the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission that gardaí failed to properly investigate sexual abuse allegations.

The allegations of childhood sexual abuse were first referred to gardaí by Greater Manchester Police.

The allegations were made to GMP over incidents that occurred in Ireland and a "comprehensive report" was sent to gardaí.

But GSOC found that very little was done over a protracted period to carry out an investigation, or to deal with the suspected offender, meaning he remained a risk to children.

Commissioner Drew Harris today acknowledged the individual and systemic failure in the case.

He said it was "not good enough" and steps had been taken to ensure it would not happen again.

The garda member concerned was found to be in breach of the Garda Discipline Regulations for neglect of duty on two counts and sanctioned accordingly.

The breaches were over a failure to properly investigate the allegations of childhood sexual abuse and a failure to communicate with the victim on the progress of the investigation.

The case was outlined in GSOC's annual report, which was published today.

It also recorded an increase of 12% in the volume of complaints against gardaí.

Minister for Justice Helen Mc Entee said she was not "overly concerned" by the increase in cases, which she said was reflective of an increase in the number of gardaí and an increased awareness of GSOC.

The Director of Public Prosecutions prosecuted 13 charges last year arising from investigations into gardaí involving assault, road traffic offences, the provision of false information and sex offences.

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Commissioner Harris also said that among the 600 people banned from the US because of their connections to the Kinahan organised crime group, there was some "very significant crime figures".

He said that gardaí were working with the US authorities to see what further sanctions could be imposed on them.

The Commissioner and Minister for Justice were speaking at the graduation of 102 new gardaí today at the garda college in Templemore.

The new gardaí include a former vulture fund employee, a Laois county footballer and an Angolan man who came to Ireland as a nine-year-old boy.

The graduation was the first in more than two years.

Graduation Parade of 102 newly attested gardaí today at the Garda College, Templemore (Pic: RollingNews.ie)